Mail-chute.



E.' A. FORDYGE.

MAIL CHUTE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. Z5, 1909.

rPatented. Jan. 17, 1911.

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EDMOND A. FORDYCE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAIL-CHUTE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND A. F ORDYCE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Chutes, of which the following is a specih ication.

My invention relates to improvements in mail chutes, and the main object is to provide a chute in which mail may be deposited at different iioors of a building below the floor where the chute is out of order during the period when the chute is closed to all mail above the floor where the chute is out of order.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure l is a front elevation of a mail chute provided with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 Fig. l. Fig. 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 2

but showing the upper part of the chute closed against the insertion of mail matter. Fio. chiite and mechanism at one of the iioors with parts broken away to show the mechanism more clearly.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The chute A which is arranged `along the wall B of a building is adapted to extend from the several floors to the lower floor where a mail box is provided to receive the mail dropped into the chute A at the different floors. At each iioor there is provided a pocket D having an inlet D for the insertion of mail and which pocket D communicates with the chute A. The inner side of each pocket is provided with a guard E which prevents the mail dropped down through the chute A from mixing with the mail inserted in the inlet D and possible blocking of the chute. l/Vithin each pocket D is a lever G pivoted on the shaft F and carrying on its upper end the valve I-I which normally is held in position shown in Fig. 2 so that mail can be inserted into the pockets D. Each lever G is provided at its other end with an arm J to which is pivotally connected the links L, L, M and M. Each of these links is provided at its upper end with aslot O in which is adapted t0 work the pin N fast on the arm J.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led August 25, 1909. Serial No. 514,535.

4 is an enlarged detail view of the Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

The operation of the device is as follows: th the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, mail may now if the chute should get out of order below the upper two pockets shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the attendant, standing by the middle valve can lift the link L and thereby all the links above him and close the middle valve and all corresponding valves above, while the third pocket and all pockets below remain open to the reception of mail, which passes down to the receiving box at the bottom or ground iioor for collection. By means of the slot O, the two upper valves Gr can be operated as described, without disturbing the lower valve I-I as the pins N move to the upper position as shown without lifting the links M and M. When the chute has been repaired, the valves H can be moved out of closed position as shown in Fig. 3 to the open position shown in Fig. 2, by operating the arms J or the links L and L.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In an apparatus of the character described, a mail chute, a plurality of pockets located at different elevations provided with inlets from the exterior and outlets communicating with the interior of the chute, a pivoted valve controlling the inlet of each pocket, and a link pivoted at one end to the valve of a lower pocket and having a lost motion connection at its other end with the valve of an upper pocket.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a mail chute, a plurality of pockets communicating with said chute and each provided with an inlet and outlet, a valve controlling the inlet to each pocket, and connecting mechanism between said valves comprising a slot and pin connection whereby those above a certain floor may be closed without closing those below said iioor.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a mail chute, a plurality of pockets located at different elevations providedI with inlets from the exterior and outlets communicating with the interior of the chute, a pivoted valve controlling the inlet of each be deposited at all three ioors;

pocket, an arm on each Valve, a. pin on each two, Subscribing Witnesses7`v this twentyarm. and? a; Link pivoted zut @ne enc te then oumth day of August A.`D. 1909.

arm' of a lower Valve and slotted at the other end to engage `the, pin on the arm of an EDMOND A' FORDYCE' 5 upper valve. /Vtnesses:

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy f WILLIS C. MERRILL,

name to this specification in the presence of' CHARLES J. BROWN. 

